Boonsang was yesterday named chairman of the relief operations as floods ravaged many provinces in the North and South.

The Meteorological Department yesterday warned people in the South to brace for possible flash floods as a depression in the South China Sea sends heavy rains to the region.

The warning went out to residents in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces.

Rains are also expected in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

In Krabi, residents in Phra Saeng district have moved to the second floor of their homes

as floodwaters rise. The only form of transport there now is by boat.

"The situation is not serious. People can still help themselves," Phira Suraka, who headed Tambon Bang Sawan Provincial Administrative Organisation, said yesterday.

 In Surat Thani, Phrasaeng district chief Thanit Promthong said seven flat-bottom boats were standing by to evacuate people if conditions worsen.

While many areas are flooded, he said the situation was not serious.

Wanchai Chaowanapanja, who heads a relief centre, said he was concerned about landslides in many parts of Surat Thani.

"If possible, motorists should avoid the Surat Thani-Phang Nga Road around Khao Sok National Park because landslides have repeatedly taken place there," he said. He urged officials to closely monitor the situation.

Thanakorn Prabanpreuk, who heads the Surat Thani relief centre, said Phanom district was the most landslide-prone area.

"We are focusing on how to issue quick early warnings and evacuate people rapidly in cases of emergency," he said, adding that up to 15,000 people could be affected.

At the same time, the Meteorological Department advised people in Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat and Uthai Thani to remain vigilant as flooding was likely to continue.

Many areas of Phitsanulok were also flooded. But some residents are learning to make the best of a bad situation. People were seen relaxing by a submerged field while many teens took the opportunity to go fishing in the fields.

Meanwhile, 194 roads in Phitsanulok were under water.

In Tambon Bang Rakam, 30 families huddled by a road as it was the only high-ground not touched by floodwaters.

In Angthong, hundreds of families were now living in flooded houses.

Floodwater reached a metre high in the worst-hit areas.

Officials were now battling hard to prevent floodwaters from coming into urban centres.

"If flooding reaches the town, the local economy may suffer losses of more than Bt100 million," said Kittisak Trarungruang, mayor of Muang Sena municipality.